Corbin man arrested for decades old sex crimes

A Corbin man has been arrested in Knox County on sexual abuse and sodomy charges stemming from incidents that allegedly happened in 1980 and 1992, respectively.

John E. Sutherland, 72, was arrested Friday following an investigation by Kentucky State Police Det. Jason York.

According to the warrants filed in Knox District Court, Sutherland is accused of sexually abusing a minor child on at least two different occasions on or about Jan. 1, 1980.

Sutherland allegedly sodomized a second victim, who was also a minor at the time on at least three different occasions on or about Oct. 1, 1992.

York took Sutherland into custody at his home on Bishop Street. He was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center on a $250,000 cash bond.

Trooper Shane Jacobs, public affairs officer at KSP Post 10 in Harlan, said the investigation began recently when the two alleged victims came forward and spoke with police.

“They told essentially the same story involving the same perpetrator,” Jacobs said, noting Sutherland had recently moved back to the area.

Jacobs said the investigation is continuing and more charges may be forthcoming.